Tricycle



' (Nomaden j z'sneets-sheet 1.

S. ELLIOTT.

Y TRICYCLE. N0. 379,270. Patented Mar. 13, 1888.

Wll-IESSEE- (No Model.) 2 shleets-slmetv 2.

S. ELLIOTT.

TRICYCLE.

NQ. 379,270. Patented Mar. 13, 1888.

Wim-:5555- Y u 8 INVENTDR @94A/QS my' UNITED STATES PATENT EEicE.

STERLING ELLIOTT, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

TRICYCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part oi' Letters Patent No. 379.270, dated March13, 1888.

Application filed April 26, 1887.

Serial No. 236,150. lNo model.) Patented in England September' 15, 1886,No. 11,727` October 1B,

1886, No. 13,273, December 17, 1886, No. 16,584, and April 30, 1887, No,6,304; in France October 22, 1886, No. 179,183; in Bel gium October 23,1886, No. 74,946, and in Germany January 4, 1887, No. 40,387.

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that l, STERLING ELLIOTT, of Newton, county of Middlesex,and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement`in Tricycles,(for which Letters Patent have been granted in the following countries,namely: England, No. 13,273, October 18, 1886, No. 16,584, December 17,Y 1886, and No. 11,727, September 15, 1886, and No. 6,304, April 30,1887; Belgium, No. 74,946, October 23, 1886; France, No. 179,183,October 22, 1886, and Germany, No. 40,387, January 4, 1887,)of which thefollowing description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, isa specilication, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention is an improvement upon the machine shown in application,Serial No. 203,216, tiled by me May 25, 1886, and has for -its object tosimplify the construction of the same in many particulars.

In this my present invention a novel springsupported seat is employed,means being shown for adjusting the tension of the spring holding theseat according to the weight of the rider. Means are also provided,operated by the hands of the rider in proximity to the steering-bar, foradjusting the actuating devices of the driving mechanism, to therebyincrease or decrease the power required Yto operate the machine, or, inother words, to vary the speed of the machine. An indicator is alsoprovided for indicatingina suitablemanner the adjustment of theactuating devices. A brake of different construction is also provided,which, while being much simpler than that shown in the applicationrevfel-red to, may be operated by the rotation of embodyingthisinvention; Fi g2, a vertical section oftheseat,itssupporting-spriug, and locking device; Fig. 3, a top view of Fig. 1;Fig. 4, a front elevation and partial section of the handle-bar and itsconnected parts; Fig. 5, a vertical section of Fig. 4, taken on thedotted line .fr x; Fig. 6, a rear side View of a portion of thehandle-bar, showing the graduated scale; Fig. 7, an under side view ofthe footrest, showing the centering ddevice applied thereto; and Fig. 8,a longitudinal section of the front end of the main frame, the lower endof the steering-rod, and the centering device.

The main drive-wheels A and axle by which they are joined together, theclutch or driving mechanism for rotating the main axle and the actuatingdevices comprising pedal-levers D D, pivoted to the supporting bar orframe C, and suitably connected with and so as to operate the clutchmechanism, the slideblocks e e', mounted respectively upon thepedal-levers D D', and the master-blockf, mounted to slide upon theframe O to determine the position of the slide-blocks e e', the uprightrod E, supporting the handle-bar connecting the parts, and also servingas the steering-rod, an'd the arms m, supporting the steering-Wheel F,are all as in the application referred to, so need not be herein furtherdescribed. 1

The saddle Z, of any usual shape, is fixed in any suitable manner uponthe rod Z2, fitted within a tube, Z3, adjustably connected withA thearms nu', projecting from the frame-work. The rod Z2, for a portion ofits length within the tube Z3, is reduced in diameter and screwthreaded,as at 2*, to engage a sleeve-like nut, Z5, placed in and made freelymovable vertically within the tube Z3. The sleeve Z5 is slotted at oneside to receive a pin or stud, Z6, project ing inwardly from the tubeZ3, the said slot being of sufficient length to permit the sleeve Z5 torise and fall to any desired extent, but not to rotate. j Z7, encirclingthe lower portion of the rod Z2 within the tube Z3, the lower end of thesaid spring bearing against a bridge or cross-baal, near the lower endof said tube, in which the end of the rod Z2 has its bearings.

The sleeve Z5 bears upon a spring, 9 5

A spring Ico controlled latch, ZO, is pivoted to the upper end i of thetube Z3, the said latch having a projecting point or stud, (see Fig. 2,)which enters a groove cut in the side of the said rod Z2, to therebyprevent the said rod from rotating. The nut Z9 is screwed upon thelowerend of the rod Z'z beneath the bridge orcross-bar ZS.

t will be seen that as a heavy weight is placed upon the scat Z the rodZ` will descend against the tension of the spring ZT. To compensate fordifferent weights the spring-controlled latch Zl may be disengaged fromthe rod Z2 and the latter rotated in one or the other direction byturning the saddle, causing the screw-threaded portion Z" to turn withinthe sleeve, thereby causing the latter to rise and fall, the effect ofwhich is to either compress the spring Z7 or to permit the same todistend.

The master-block j' (shown in the application referred to) was moved bya lever extending vertically behind the rider; but as the same has beenfound somewhat inconvenient, I have provided means located in frontofthe rider for moving thesaid block. Thesaid means consist,essentially, of a rod, a, (see Fig. 1,) attached to the saidmaster-block f, and extending forward substantially parallel with thesupporting-bar C, and attached at its forward end to a bell-crank lever,c, pivoted upon another upright rising from the said frame C.

A rod extending substantially parallel with the steering-rod Eisconnected at its lower end with the opposite end of the bellerank-levera', and at its upper end is provided with aseries of rack-teeth, c, (seedetail, Fig. 5,) which are engaged by the teeth of a wheel, c5, ixedupon a rod, a, passing longitudinally through the sleeve B, said sleevesurrounding the handle bar or rod as, it having secured to its ends twohandles, H, so that as the latter are rotated in one or the otherdirection said rod a3 will be raised or lowered through the said pinionc5, thereby moving the master-block f backward and forward uponthesupporting-frame C.

The rod a3 and its connected and operative parts constitute theadjusting devices for the actuating devices.

An indicator is provided for showing the adjustment of the actuatingdevices to enable the operator to be correctlyinformed as to theincrease and decrease of power, that he may ascertain the speed at whichthe machine is being run. The indicatorin this instance is composed 'ofan indicating-point, ai, secured to the upper end of the rod als andpassing through a slot ent in the face of a rectangular casing, c, thesaid point co-operating with a series of grad nations marked upon theface of the said casing to visually make known to the rider the exactposition of the master-block, the graduations being such as to informhim of the increase or decrease of power, or, in other words, the speedat which the machine is being run, by indicating the diameter of thewheel to which the machine is gaged, so that instantly the rider cantell what is the adjusted or running diameter of his wheel.

When the master-block is placed in any desired position, it may belocked in such position by a spring-controlled stop, s, passing throughthe casing Z8 at the upper end of the steering-rod E, it engaging one ofthe teeth of the rack-bar c* and holding the same securely in place.

The brake in this my present invention consists of a brake-shoe, c,having an arm, c', by which it is loosely connected with an ear or stud,c, secured to the under side ofthe frame or bar C, the rod c3, attachedto the said brakeshoe. passing upward through the steering-rod E andbeing connected at its upper end to a cross-bar, c", which joins the twoshort arms c, secured to the sleeve B, so that as the said sleeve B isrotated upon the rod c the crossbar c L will be raised or lowered,thereby raising or lowering the brakerod c, said brakerod being normallyretained in its lowermost position with the brake-shoe disengaged fromthe steering-wheel F by a spring, c6. The sleeve B is provided at eachend with a suitable ange, d, which slightly projects over upon the innerend of the handle H, next to it, so that when the hands of the riderrest upon the handles H but little movement is required to grasp thesleeve B to thereby apply the brake.

The brake-shoe c is so located with relation to the steering-wheel Fthat when brought into engagement therewith the further movement of thesteering-wheel tends t0 more tightly apply the brake.

The centering device for the steering device herein shown consists of ashort arm, 0, secured to the lower end of the steering-rod E, (see Figs.7 and 8,) said short arm o having a projecting pin or stud, o', whichstrikes against the heads 02 o3 ot' rods o4 o5, located n pon the underside of the foot-rest R and having their bearings in thedownwardly-turned ends r thereof. The heads o2 o3 of the said rods arenormally pressed against the said pin or stud o, fixed to the center ofthe foot-rest R, byv

springs o7 0S, one end ot' each spring bearing respectively against theheads and the other bearing against the downwardly-turned end Ir of the'tootrest By this construction it will he seen that as the short arm isturned in one or the other direction by the steering-rod-as, forinstance, that indicated by the arrow-its pin or stud o will strikeagainst the block o?, moving the rod o* against the tension of thespring o7, while the block oa at such time bears against the stud o, sothat only one spring is pressed at a time bythe movement of thesteering-rod in one or the other direction to thereby supply the powerrequired to turn the steering-wheel into its normal position. While suchform of centering device for the steering devices is, I consider,preferable, yet it is obvious that the same may be somewhat moditied andstill accomplish the desired end.

I claim- 1. In a velocipede, the combination, substantially asdescribed, of the driving mechan- ICO IIO

avarie s ism and actuating devices therefor, with means operated by therotation of the handle-bar for adjusting the actuating devices for tlLcdriving mechanism.

2. In a velocipede, the main axles and driv ing mechanism, andpedal-levers having slideblocks for operating the driving mechanism, andthe master block, substantially as described, for moving theslide-blocks, combined With means, substantially as described, operYated by the rotation of the handles H, for moving said master-block, asset forth.

3. In a velocipede, the main axle and driving mechanism, and pedallevershaving slideblocks thereon for operating the driving mechanism, andmaster-block, substantially as described, for moving the slide-blocks,combined with the rod c3, connected with the masterblock, and means,substantially as described, for raising and lowering the said rod a3, asset forth.

4. In a velocipede, the combination, substantially as described, of thedriving mechanism and adjustable actuating devices for the same, with anindicator for the said adjustable actuating devices.

5. In a velocipede, the main axle and driving mechanism,and pedal-levershaving slideblocks thereon for operating the driving mechanisin, and themaster-block, substantially as described, for moving the slide blocks,combined with arod, ai, having the indicating point a7, connected withthe master-block, as described, and the graduated casing with which thesaid indicating-point co-operates, and means, substantially asdescribed, for raising and lowering the said rod a3, as set forth.

6. In a velocipede, the main shaft and driving` mechanism,andpedal-levers having slideblocks thereon for operating the driving mechanism at different speeds, dependent upon the position of theslide-blocks, combined with means, substantially as described, formoving the slidc'blocks, and the graduated casing and indicating-pointfor indicating the position of the slide-blocks, substantially as setforth.

7. In a velocipede, the main shaft and drive- Wheels and steering-Wheeland sleeve B, comtially as described.

bined with a pivoted brake-shoe, and means, substantially as described,operated by the rotation of the said sleeve,for moving said brakeshoe onitspivot, as set forth.

8.l In a velocipede, the main shaft and driving mechanism, and actuatingdevices for the driving mechanism, the steering-wheel, and steering-rod,combined with a centering device for the steeringrod, and the foot-rest,which serves as a guard or shield for thecentering devices,substantially as described.

9. In a velocipede, the main shaft and drivewheels, the steering-wheeland steering-rod, combined with a centering device composed 0f a shortarm, o, and spring 0T 0S, for normally retaining the said short arm inline parallel with the drive-Wheels, and with means, substantially asdescribed, for preventing either one of the said springs from distendingbeyond the normal position of the short arm o, as set forth.

10. In a velocipede, the steeringrod E, provided With bearings, arotating handle bar mounted in said bearings, and a rod, as ai, andmeans to reciprocate it by the rotation of the handle-bar, the said roda3 being instrumental in actuating devices for varying at will theleverage used in actuating the machine.

Il. In a velocipede, the tubular upright Z3 and spring Within it, andsaddle supported by the spring, combined with means operable by rotationof the saddle for varying the tension of the supporting-spring,substantially as described.

l2. In a velocipede, the tubular upright Z3 and spring Within it, andsaddlesupported by the spring, combined with means operable by rotationof the saddle for Varying the tension of the supportingspring, andalocking device for preventing rotation of the saddle, substan- Intestimony whereofI have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

STERLING ELLIOTT. Witnesses:

Bannion J. Novas, F. L. EMERY.

